Countries With the Fastest Decline in Researchers in R&D per million (5-Year Change)
Change in Researchers in R&D per million over the five years to each country's latest year, in points (a share or rate is not shown as a % of itself). Only countries that fell are listed. Source: The World Bank (CC BY 4.0).
Summary
Ukraine fell the most: by 408, from 994.1 per million people to 586.1 per million people in the five years to 2022. Moldova is second (−173.6), followed by Thailand (−120.2). 14 countries fell over that period; the median change among them was −41.8.
- #1
- Ukraine · −408
- Median
- −41.8
- Coverage
- 14 countries
- Data year
- 2023
- Last updated
- 2026-11-14
Full ranking
| Rank | Country | From | To | 5-year change (per million people) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ukraine | 994.1 | 586.1 | −408 |
| 2 | Moldova | 823.5 | 649.9 | −173.6 |
| 3 | Thailand | 1,712 | 1,592 | −120.2 |
| 4 | Russian Federation | 2,735 | 2,639 | −96.1 |
| 5 | South Africa | 516.5 | 444.2 | −72.4 |
| 6 | Tunisia | 1,726 | 1,668 | −58.6 |
| 7 | Azerbaijan | 1,716 | 1,663 | −53 |
| 8 | Kuwait | 175.3 | 144.8 | −30.6 |
| 9 | El Salvador | 73.5 | 55.5 | −18 |
| 10 | Paraguay | 152.3 | 138.8 | −13.5 |
| 11 | Guatemala | 13.3 | 1.45 | −11.8 |
| 12 | Sri Lanka | 102.2 | 94.5 | −7.68 |
| 13 | Myanmar | 34.1 | 28 | −6.11 |
| 14 | Trinidad and Tobago | 496.9 | 492.7 | −4.18 |
About the top 10
#1 Ukraine
Ukraine ranks #1 on this list with −408.
- Capital
- Kyiv
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 38.98 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$214.23 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$5,866 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 74.7 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 69.6% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa.
Also ranks #1 in net migration · #3 in refugee population by origin · #4 in arable land share.
#2 Moldova
Moldova ranks #2 on this list with −173.6.
- Capital
- Chișinău
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 2.36 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$20.35 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$8,622 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 71.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 43.7% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in real effective exchange rate index · #2 in female population share · #5 in arable land share.
#3 Thailand
Thailand ranks #3 on this list with −120.2.
- Capital
- Bangkok
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 71.62 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$577.01 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$8,057 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 76.6 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 62.8% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Bangkok, Chiang Mai.
Also ranks #5 in tourism arrivals · #10 in tourism receipts · #11 in manufacturing value added share of gdp.
#4 Russian Federation
Russian Federation ranks #4 on this list with −96.1.
- Capital
- Moscow
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 143.51 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$2.56 trillion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$17,547 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 73.4 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 75.3% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Novosibirsk.
Also ranks #1 in land area · #1 in surface area · #1 in forest area.
#5 South Africa
South Africa ranks #5 on this list with −72.4.
- Capital
- Pretoria, Cape Town
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 64.75 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$427.18 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$6,598 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 66.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 63.8% of population (2025)
Largest cities: City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, Johannesburg, Cape Town.
Also ranks #2 in unemployment rate · #2 in youth unemployment rate · #2 in income share of richest 10%.
#6 Tunisia
Tunisia ranks #6 on this list with −58.6.
- Capital
- Tunis
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 12.35 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$57.5 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$4,657 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 76.7 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 70.7% of population (2025)
Also ranks #9 in youth unemployment rate · #9 in gender parity index (school enrolment) · #16 in unemployment rate.
#7 Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan ranks #7 on this list with −53.
- Capital
- Baku
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 10.25 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$75.94 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$7,411 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 74.6 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 58.6% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Baku.
Also ranks #9 in literacy rate · #9 in electricity access rate · #9 in access to electricity (rural).
#8 Kuwait
Kuwait ranks #8 on this list with −30.6.
- Capital
- Kuwait City
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 4.87 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$157.21 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$32,312 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 84.6 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 100% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Kuwait City.
Also ranks #1 in fertiliser consumption · #2 in access to sanitation · #3 in population ages 15-64 share.
#9 El Salvador
El Salvador ranks #9 on this list with −18.
- Capital
- San Salvador
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 6.37 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$36.71 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$5,767 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 72.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 75.5% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in debt service share of exports · #6 in government debt share of gdp · #14 in mobile subscriptions per 100.
#10 Paraguay
Paraguay ranks #10 on this list with −13.5.
- Capital
- Asunción
- Continent
- South America
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 7.01 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$49.28 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$7,027 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 74 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 70.4% of population (2025)
Also ranks #8 in official exchange rate · #11 in income share of richest 10% · #14 in gini index.
Profile facts: World Bank (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0); weather links go to Purr Weather, another ChowChow Labs site.
Source and method
Change in Researchers in R&D per million over the five years to each country's latest year, in points (a share or rate is not shown as a % of itself). Only countries that fell are listed.
Source: The World Bank, indicator SP.POP.SCIE.RD.P6. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Retrieved: 2026-11-14.
The World Bank: Researchers in R&D (per million people): Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (via World Development Indicators)
Original data provider, as recorded by the World Bank: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Values are shown as published (changes are computed from the published values). Provider terms: The World Bank. All licences: Sources & licences.